System and method for accessing a conference system

ABSTRACT

A user equipment, method, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, a system of connecting a user equipment to a conference system are provided. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a conference dialer application receives a meeting notification from a calendar application, where the meeting notification describes a meeting hosted on a conference system and includes at least one conference access code used to access the conference system. The conference dialer application prompts the user for voice input. The conference dialer application receives a first voice input from the user indicating to the user equipment to join the meeting on the conference system. The conference dialer application, responsive to the first voice input, automatically supplies the at least one conference access code in order to join the meeting. Finally, the conference dialer application, via a telephone dialer application, connects the user equipment to the meeting on the conference system.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation application of pending U.S.application Ser. No. 13/705,337 filed on Dec. 5, 2012. The contents ofthis document are hereby incorporated by reference within.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to a data processing system.More particularly, and not by way of limitation, the present inventionis directed to a system and method for accessing a conference system.

As a time and cost-effective alternative to face-to-face meetings,businesses utilize conference systems in order to host virtual meetings.Before a virtual meeting, a meeting attendee receives a telephone numberand at least one passcode via a message such as an e-mail message or ameeting reminder from a calendar program. The meeting attendee firstdials the telephone number to access the conference system, and whenprompted, dials at least one access code to access a particular virtualmeeting corresponding to the access code.

Disadvantages to such a conference system are that: (1) the user isrequired to quickly learn a large number of digits (e.g., a ten-digittelephone number and an eight-digit passcode) and (2) the userfrequently has to manually dial the telephone number and passcode. Ifthe user forgets, transposes, or otherwise incorrectly enters a digit,the user is required to start the entire dialing process over. If theuser attempts to contact the conference system via a mobile phone, theuser frequently has to switch between the phone dialer and the messagecontaining the telephone number and passcode in order to successfullyenter the required digits.

Thus, it would be advantageous to have a system and method forconnecting a conference system that overcomes the disadvantages of theprior art. The present invention provides such a system and method.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes the advantages of connecting to aconference system with minimal user interaction with a user equipment.Such an advantage facilitates conference system connection when the usermight be otherwise engaged. Also, the invention presents an advantage inthat the user is not required to memorize or manually enter conferencesystem access information in order to join a meeting hosted by theconference system.

Thus, in one aspect, the present invention is directed to a userequipment that includes at least one processor, which is further coupledto a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Thecomputer-readable storage medium also includes computer-readableinstructions, when executed by the at least one processor, areconfigured to receive a meeting notification from a calendarapplication, where the meeting notification describes a meeting hostedon a conference system and includes at least one conference access codeused to access the conference system. The computer-readable instructionsare further configured to prompt the user for voice input in responsethe meeting notification. The computer-readable instructions are furtherconfigured to receive a first voice input from the user indicating tothe user equipment to join the meeting on the conference system. Thecomputer-readable instructions are further configured to, responsive tothe first voice input, automatically supply the at least one conferenceaccess code form the meeting notification to the conference system inorder to join the meeting. The computer-readable instructions arefurther configured to connect to the meeting on the conference system.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method forconnecting a user equipment to a conference system. A conference dialerapplication receives a meeting notification from a calendar application,where the meeting notification describes a meeting hosted on aconference system and includes at least one conference access code usedto access the conference system. The conference dialer applicationprompts the user for voice input in response to the meetingnotification. The conference dialer application receives a first voiceinput from the user indicating to the user equipment to join the meetingon the conference system. The conference dialer application, responsiveto the first voice input, automatically supplies the at least oneconference access code in order to join the meeting. Finally, theconference dialer application via a telephone dialer applicationconnects the user equipment to the meeting on the conference system.

The method also may include the conference dialer applicationdetermining if the user equipment is set to a silent mode. And inresponse to determining that the user equipment is set to a silent mode,the conference dialer application displays a user interface prompting auser for silent input in response to the meeting notification. Theconference dialer then receives, via the user interface, a first silentinput from the user indicating to the user equipment to join a meetingon the conference system. In response to the first silent input, theconference dialer application automatically supplies at least oneconference access code to the conference system in order to join themeeting.

The method may also include the conference dialer application connectingto a three-way conference with a user-requested contact and theconference system, responsive to a second voice input.

The method may also include the conference dialer application forwardingthe meeting notification to at least one user-requested contact, inresponse to a third voice input.

The method may also include the conference dialer application delayingaccess to the conference system for a predetermined time period, inresponse to a fourth voice input.

The method may also include the conference dialer application cancellingaccess to the conference system, in response to a fifth voice input.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage mediumalso includes computer-readable instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, are configured to receive a meeting notificationfrom a calendar application, where the meeting notification describes ameeting hosted on a conference system and includes at least oneconference access code used to access the conference system. Thecomputer-readable instructions are further configured to prompt the userfor voice input in response the meeting notification. Thecomputer-readable instructions are further configured to receive a firstvoice input from the user indicating to the user equipment to join themeeting on the conference system. The computer-readable instructions arefurther configured to, responsive to the first voice input,automatically supply the at least one conference access code form themeeting notification to the conference system in order to join themeeting. The computer-readable instructions are further configured toconnect to the meeting on the conference system.

In yet another aspect, the present invention is directed to a system forconnecting a user equipment to a conference system. The system includesa user equipment that includes at least one processor, which is furthercoupled to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Thecomputer-readable storage medium also includes computer-readableinstructions, when executed by the at least one processor, areconfigured to receive a meeting notification from a calendarapplication, where the meeting notification describes a meeting hostedon a conference system and includes at least one conference access codeused to access the conference system. The computer-readable instructionsare further configured to prompt the user for voice input in responsethe meeting notification. The computer-readable instructions are furtherconfigured to receive a first voice input from the user indicating tothe user equipment to join the meeting on the conference system. Thecomputer-readable instructions are further configured to, responsive tothe first voice input, automatically supply the at least one conferenceaccess code form the meeting notification to the conference system inorder to join the meeting. The computer-readable instructions arefurther configured to connect to the meeting on the conference system.The system also includes a conference system, that further includes atleast one processor a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium,coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium further includes computer-readableinstructions, when executed by the at least one processor, areconfigured to receive at least one conference access code from the userequipment. The computer-readable instructions are further configured toassign the user equipment to a virtual meeting corresponding to the atleast one conference access code. The computer-readable instructions arefurther configured to connect the user equipment to the virtual meeting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

In the following section, the invention will be described with referenceto exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a general system view of an userequipment (UE), network, and conference system, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a more detailed block diagram depicting an UE according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a more detailed block diagram illustrating a conferencesystem according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a block diagram depicting contents of a memory of the userequipment shown in FIG. 2A, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3B is a block diagram illustrating contents of a memory of theconference system shown in FIG. 2B, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3C is a block diagram depicting an exemplary appointment entryrecord in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a depicts a graphical user interface of the UE in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5A-5J are flowcharts illustrating a method for connecting to aconference system in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The methods described herein can be implemented in any appropriate typeof telecommunications system supporting any suitable communicationstandards and using any suitable components. Particular embodiments ofthe described methods may be implemented in a network such asillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a general system view of userequipment (UE), an access network, and a conference system according toan embodiment of the present invention. System 100 includes, but is notlimited to, user equipment (UE) 102 a-102 n, an access network 106, acore packet-switched (PS) network 110, a core circuit-switched (CS)network 112, a public-switched telephone network (PSTN) 114, and aconference system 116.

As illustrated, UE 102 a-102 n communicate with conference system 116,via access network 104, core CS network 112, and PSTN 114. Inparticular, UE 102 a-102 n communicate with conference system 116 byfirst connecting to at least one of base stations 106 a-106 n in accessnetwork 104. Base stations 106 a-106 n, controlled by base stationcontroller (BSC) 108, receives and transmits wireless signals from UEs102 a-102 n in order to facilitate the communication with other devicessuch as, but not limited to, other UEs, landline telephones, andconference system 116. BSC 108, coupled to base stations 106 a-106 n,handles a variety of tasks in access network 104 including, but notlimited to, allocating radio channels, controlling handover operationsof a UE from one base station to another, and communicating with core PSnetwork 110 (for packet-switched communication) and core CS network 112(for circuit-switched communication).

Core PS network 110 enables a second-generation (2G), third-generation(3G), and/or Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) mobilenetwork to transmit Internet Protocol (IP) packets to external networksuch as the Internet. Core PS network 110 also includes a collection ofnodes (not shown) such as the Gateway GPRS support node (GGSN), ServingGPRS support node (SGSN), and the like. Core CS network 112 enables UE102 a-102 n to communicate with each other and other devices (e.g.,landline telephones and conference system 116) via PSTN 114. Core CSnetwork 112 also includes a collection of nodes (not shown) such as, butnot limited to, a Home Location Register (HLR), a Visitor LocationRegister (VLR), and a Mobile Switching Center (MSC).

All of the described nodes (e.g., BSC 108, GGSN, SGSN, HLR, VLR, MSC,etc.) and any other mobile communications node may be provided by aprocessor executing instructions on a non-transitory computer-readablemedium. Alternative embodiments of system 100 may include additionalcomponents responsible for providing additional functionality, includingany of the functionality described above or herein, and/or anyfunctionality necessary to support the methods described herein. Also,alternative embodiments of system 100 include connections betweenconference system 116 and core PS network 110 in additional to or inlieu of the connections between conference system 116, PSTN 114, andcore CS network 112 (not pictured).

FIG. 2A is a block diagram depicting an example UE 102 in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. UE 102 can be utilized toimplement any of UE 102 a-102 n as discussed in conjunction with FIG. 1.As illustrated, UE 102 includes a collection of processors 202 a-202 n,which are coupled to a memory 206, a graphics adapter 208, and atransmitter/receiver 210 via interconnect 204. Processors 202 a-202 ncan be implemented by any microprocessor and may include microprocessorswith more than one processing core. Memory 206 can be implemented by anynon-transitory computer-readable medium, such as, but not limited to,flash memory, a hard disk drive, read-only memory (RAM) and the like.Memory 206 further includes computer-readable instructions, whenexecuted by processors 202 a-202 n, are configured to implement themethods described herein. The contents of memory 206 are furtherdiscussed in conjunction with FIG. 3A.

Still referring to FIG. 2A, UE 102 further includes graphics adapter 208and transmitter/receiver 210, which is further coupled to antenna 212.Graphics adapter 208 enables UE to display text and graphics on adisplay, which enables user interaction with the UE. For example,graphics adapter 208, in conjunction with processors 202 a-202 n andcomputer-readable instructions stored on memory 206, enables UE 102 todisplay a graphical user interface such as user interface 300 (FIG. 3)and/or graphical user interface 400, which is discussed in more detailin conjunction with FIG. 4. Transmitter/receiver 210 via antenna 212enables UE 102 to communicate with a base station in an access network,such as base stations 106 a-106 n (FIG. 1) of access network 104 (FIG.1). Alternative embodiments of the present invention may includeadditional components responsible for providing additionalfunctionality, including any functionality described herein and/or anyfunctionality necessary to support the solution described herein.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram depicting an example conference system 116 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated,conference system 116 includes a collection of processors 252 a-252 n,which are coupled to memory 256 via interconnect 254. Processors 252a-252 n can be implemented by any microprocessor and may includemicroprocessors with more than one processing core. Memory 256 can beimplemented by any non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as, butnot limited to, flash memory, a hard disk drive, read-only memory (RAM)and the like. The contents of memory 256 are further discussed inconjunction with FIG. 3B.

Still referring to FIG. 2B, conference system 116 further includes agraphics adapter 258 and a network adapter 260. Graphics adapter 258enables conference system to display text and graphics on a display,which enables operator interaction with conference system 116. Networkadapter 260 enables conference system 116 to communicate with anexternal network such as PSTN 114 (FIG. 1) and/or the Internet.Alternative embodiments of the present invention may include additionalcomponents responsible for providing additional functionality, includingany functionality described herein and/or any functionality necessary tosupport the solution described herein.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating a more detailed view of thecontents of a UE memory in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. As previously discussed, memory 206 (FIG. 2) of UE 102 (FIG.2) includes computer-readable instructions. These computer-readableinstructions, when executed by a processor, are configured to implementthe methods described herein as well as provide other functionality forUE 102. As illustrated, memory 206 includes an operating system (OS)300, which further includes a user interface 302 and a kernel 304. Userinterface 302 provides transparent user access to resources such asapplication programs 306. Generally, user interface 302 is a programthat interprets user commands entered by a user and sends theinterpreted command(s) to the appropriate lower levels of the operatingsystem (e.g., kernel 304) for processing. Embodiments of the presentinvention enable a user to enter user commands using any type ofinterface such as, but not limited to, a keyboard, a voice interface,and a gestural interface. An example of user interface 302 is graphicaluser interface 400, discussed herein more detail in conjunction withFIG. 4.

As illustrated, OS 300 also includes kernel 304, which includes lowerlevels of functionality for OS 300, including providing essentialservices required by other parts of OS 300 and application programs 306including, but not limited to, memory management, process and taskmanagement, disk management, and user interface management. Applicationprograms 306 can include a calendar application 308, conference dialerapplication 310, telephone dialer application 312, and otherapplications 314, which include, but are not limited, utilities, games,productivity, social media, or navigation applications. Also, memory 206includes a database 316, which includes data stored and accessed duringthe operation of application programs 306. As discussed herein in moredetail, database 316 includes calendar, appointment, and contact listentries that are accessed by calendar application 308.

Calendar application 308 provides users with an electronic version of acalendar and can provide additional functionality such as an appointmentbook, address book, or contact list. Calendar application 308 can beimplemented as a standalone application designed for individual use. Ina standalone implementation, a single user views, adds, and deletescalendar and/or appointment entries in order to keep track ofappointments and important dates. Calendar application 308 can also beimplemented as a networked application that allows for sharing ofinformation between multiple users. An example of a networked calendarapplication is Microsoft Outlook with Exchange Server, a product ofMicrosoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. When implemented as a networkedapplication, not only can an individual user view, add, and deletecalendar and/or appointment entries, other users using different devicescan view, add, or delete such entries on behalf of the individual user.FIG. 3C illustrates an exemplary appointment entry that can be viewed,added, or deleted within calendar application 308.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an appointmententry used by calendar application 308 (FIG. 3A) can be implemented by arecord data structure that includes multiple fields. A collection ofappointment entries can be implemented by an array of records. Asillustrated in FIG. 3C, an appointment entry 350 includes an appointmenttitle field 352, an appointment time field 354, an appointmentdescription field 356, conference system phone number field 358, andconference system passcode field 360.

Appointment title field 352 includes information regarding the title ofa specific appointment. For example, a conference with a client could belisted in appointment title field 352 as “Teleconference with client X.”Appointment time field 354 includes information regarding the appointedtime and/or duration of a specific appointment. For example, theabovementioned “teleconference with client X” could be scheduled andrecorded in appointment time field 354 as “9:00 AM to 10:00 AM.”Appointment description field 356 includes any additional informationthe user wishes to include in the appointment entry such as a short listof discussion topics, in the abovementioned teleconference example. Ifthe appointment is a telephone conference that requires the user of aconference system (e.g., conference system 116 of FIG. 1), appointmententry 350 can also include a conference phone number and passcode, whichare stored in conference system phone number field 358 and conferencesystem passcode field 360, respectively. According to an embodiment ofthe present invention, a conference system phone number is implementedas a ten-digit number (country code, area code, and seven-digit phonenumber, e.g., +1-555-555-5555) and the conference system passcode isimplemented as an eight-digit number followed by a pound (“#”) sign. Ofcourse, the present invention contemplates the implementation of theconference system phone number and conference system passcode by anycombination of numbers, letters, and/or symbols, images, or any otherkind of unique identifying information.

Of course, appointment entry 350 is not limited to the aforementionedfields, but can include other fields for other types of information.Such other fields are not germane to understanding the present inventionand are thus not illustrated or further discussed.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, calendarapplication 308 also supports sending of notification messages at thetime (and/or a predetermined period of time before or after) a scheduledappointment. For example, with reference to the prior “teleconferencewith client X” appointment example, a user may request to be reminded ofthe appointment with a notification message five minutes before, at thetime of, and five minutes after a time listed in appointment time field354. The notification message can be implemented as an audible or visualalarm or a message sent between calendar application 308 and anotherapplication such as conference dialer application 310. According to anembodiment of the present invention, the notification message caninclude the information located in the multiple fields of theappointment entry 350 such as the information included in conferencesystem phone number field 358 and conference system passcode field 360.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, conference dialerapplication 310 receives a meeting notification from calendarapplication 308. The meeting notification describes a meeting hosted ona conference system (e.g., conference system 116 of FIG. 1) and alsoincludes at least one conference access code used to access theconference system. The at least one conference access code, according toan embodiment of the present invention, can be a telephone number and apasscode. Upon receiving the meeting notification, conference dialerapplication 310 prompts a user for voice input. Conference dialerapplication 310, via user interface 302 and kernel 304, receives a firstvoice input from the user indicating a desire to join the meeting on theconference system. In response to the first voice input, conferencedialer application 310 automatically supplies the telephone number andpasscode to the conference system manager of a conference system, viatelephone dialer application 312, in order to join the meeting on theconference system.

FIG. 3B is a block diagram depicting a more detailed view of thecontents of a conference system memory in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention. As previously discussed, memory 256 (FIG. 2B)of conference system 116 (FIG. 2B) includes computer-readableinstructions, when executed by a processor, are configured to supportthe solutions described herein as well as provide other functionalityfor conference system 116. As illustrated, memory 256 includes anoperating system (OS) 320, which further includes a user interface 322and a kernel 324. User interface 322 provides transparent operatoraccess to resources such as application programs 326. Generally, userinterface 322 is a program that interprets operator commands entered byan operator and sends the interpreted command(s) to appropriate lowerlevels of the OS (e.g., kernel 324) for processing. Embodiments of thepresent invention enable an operator to enter operator commands usingany type of interface such as, but not limited to, a keyboard, a voiceinterface, and a gestural interface.

As illustrated, OS 300 also includes kernel 304, which includes lowerlevels of functionality for OS 300, including providing essentialservices required by other parts of OS 300 and applications programs 306including, but not limited to, memory management, process and taskmanagement, disk management, and user interface management. Applicationprograms 326 can include a conference system manager 328, which managesand controls access to a collection of virtual meetings 332 a-332 n andother applications 330, which can include, but are not limited to,utilities and other management applications. Also, memory 256 includes adatabase 334, which includes data stored and accessed during theoperation of application programs 326.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, conference systemmanager 328 interfaces with networks such as PSTN 114 (FIG. 1) and/orthe Internet to coordinate virtual meetings (e.g., meeting 332 a-332 n)between multiple users. To start a virtual meeting, a UE (e.g., UE 102a-102 n of FIG. 1) dials a phone number associated with the conferencesystem 116. Once the UE is connected, conference system manager 328optionally prompts the UE for a conference system passcode. Upon receiptof the conference system passcode, conference system manager 328 assignsthe UE to one of meeting 332 a-332 n that corresponds to the receivedconference system passcode. Conference system manager 328 can alsooptionally perform other tasks such as, for example, conferencescheduling, provide additional virtual meeting functions for a userdesignated as a “moderator,” and the like.

FIG. 4 is a depicts a graphical user interface of the UE in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. A graphical user interface(GUI) 400 (which can be utilized to implement user interface 302 (FIG.3A) of a UE) includes a collection of icons 402, 404, 406, and 408, aswell as menu screen 410. Icons 402, 404, 406, and 408, when selected,enable a user to launch associated applications. For example, theselection of a phone icon 402 enables a user to launch a telephonedialer application (e.g., telephone dialer application 312 of FIG. 3A).The selection of a SMS icon 404 enables a user to launch a short messageservice (SMS) application that facilities the display, sending, andreceiving of SMS and multimedia messaging service (MMS) messages. Theselection of an e-mail icon 406 enables a user to launch an e-mailapplication. The e-mail application enables a user to view, create,send, and receive e-mail messages. The selection of a web icon 408enables a user to launch a World Wide Web (WWW) browser application(e.g., Microsoft Internet Explorer by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond,Washington). The browser application enables the user to accessinformation stored on the World Wide Web.

Menu screen 410 enables a user to select amongst a collection of optionsfor interacting with a conference system (e.g., conference system 116 ofFIG. 1). According to an embodiment of the present invention, menuscreen 410 is used by the user to interact with a conference dialerapplication (e.g., conference dialer application 310 of FIG. 3) in lieuof a voice input, as discussed herein in more detail in conjunction withFIG. 5A-5J.

FIG. 5A-5J are flowcharts illustrating a method for connecting a deviceto a conference system in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. According to an embodiment of the present invention, thedevice can be a user equipment such as a mobile phone (e.g., userequipment 102 of FIG. 2) or any other type of device such as a computer.An exemplary user equipment includes a memory (e.g., memory 206 of FIG.2) that further includes computer-readable instructions, when executedby a processor (e.g., processor 202 a of FIG. 2), are configured toimplement the steps discussed in conjunction with FIG. 5A-5J.

As discussed below, the first voice input, second voice input, thirdvoice input, fourth voice input, and fifth voice input are differenttypes of voice inputs that a user can provide to the user equipment. Theuser equipment provides different functionality (as discussed below) inresponse to the different types of voice inputs. Similarly, the firstsilent input, second silent input, third silent input, fourth silentinput, and fifth silent input are different types of silent inputs thata user can provide the user equipment via, for example, menu screen 410of FIG. 4. The user equipment provides different functionality (asdiscussed below) in response to the different types of silent inputs.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the process begins at step 500 and proceeds tostep 502, which illustrates a conference dialer application (e.g.,conference dialer application 310 of FIG. 3A) receiving a meetingnotification sent from a calendar application (e.g., calendarapplication 308 of FIG. 3A). The meeting notification can be implementedas a notification message that includes all or some of the informationincluded in multiple fields of an appointment entry (e.g., appointmententry 350 of FIG. 3C) such a conference system phone number and/or aconference system passcode.

The process then proceeds to connector A, which continues to step 512 onFIG. 5B. Referring to FIG. 5B, the conference dialer applicationdetermines if the user equipment executing the conference dialerapplication is set to a “silent” mode. According to an embodiment of thepresent invention, user equipment can be set in different modesdepending on the preference of the user. For example, if the user is athome and the user equipment is left in a different room, the user mightwant to set the user equipment to a “audible” mode, where the user canbe audibly notified of an incoming phone call, SMS or e-mail message, ornotifications from other applications on the user equipment. If,however, the user is in a work meeting, movie theater, or otherwise doesnot wish to be audibly notified, the user can set the user equipment toa “silent” mode, where audible alerts are not issued in the event of anincoming phone call, SMS or e-mail message, or notifications from otherapplications on the user equipment.

If the conference dialer application determines that the user equipmentis not set to a “silent” mode, the process proceeds to step 504 on FIG.5A. Referring back to FIG. 5A, Step 504 illustrates the conferencedialer application prompting a user for voice input in response to themeeting notification. The process then proceeds to connector B. If theconference dialer application receives a first voice input (e.g., userstates “join the meeting”) from the user indicating to the UE to jointhe meeting corresponding to the meeting notification (step 506), theconference dialer application automatically supplies at least oneconference code from the meeting notification to a telephone dialerapplication (e.g., telephone dialer application 312 of FIG. 3A) in orderto join the meeting. According to an embodiment of the presentinvention, the at least one conference code can be a conference systemphone number and/or conference system passcode included in the meetingnotification. The process continues to step 509 where the UE connects tothe meeting on the conference system. The telephone dialer applicationsupplies the conference system phone number and/or conference systempasscode to a conference system manager (e.g., conference system manager328 (FIG. 3B) without user interaction. The conference system managerassigns the user equipment to a virtual meeting (e.g., meeting 332 a-332n) corresponding to the received conference system passcode and connectsthe user equipment to the meeting. The process then ends, as illustratedin step 510.

Returning to connector B and referring to FIG. 5C, if the conferencedialer application receives a second voice input (e.g., user states“join the meeting and start a three-way conference with John”) (step522) from the user, the conference dialer application connects athree-way conference with a user-requested contact and also connects tothe meeting on the conference system (step 524). According to anembodiment of the present invention, the conference dialer applicationautomatically supplies at least one conference code from the meetingnotification to a telephone dialer application (e.g., telephone dialerapplication 312 of FIG. 3A) in order to join the meeting. The conferencedialer application also supplies the contact information for theuser-requested contact to the telephone dialer application in order toconnect to a three-way conference with the user-requested contact. Theat least one conference code can be a conference system phone numberand/or conference system passcode included in the meeting notification.The telephone dialer application supplies the conference system phonenumber and/or conference system passcode to a conference system manager(e.g., conference system manager 328 of FIG. 3B) without userinteraction. The conference system manager assigns the user equipment toa virtual meeting (e.g., meeting 332 a-332 n) corresponding to thereceived conference system passcode and connects the user equipment tothe meeting. The telephone dialer also connects to a three-wayconference with the user-requested contact. The process then ends, asillustrated in step 526.

Returning to connector B and referring to FIG. 5D, if the conferencedialer application receives a third voice input (e.g., user states“forward the meeting information to John”) from the user (step 528), theconference dialer application sends the meeting notification, along withthe contact information with the user-requested contact to acommunications application such as an SMS application, e-mailapplication, and the like in order to forward the meeting notificationto the user-requested contact. The communications application thenforwards the meeting notification to the user-requested contact (step530). The process then ends, as illustrated in step 532.

Returning to connector B and referring to FIG. 5E, if the conferencedialer application receives a fourth voice input (e.g., user states“delay connection to the meeting for five minutes”) from the user (step534), the conference dialer application will delay connection to theconference system for a predetermined time period (step 536). Afterexpiration of the predetermined time period, the process returns toconnector A (FIG. 5A) and then proceeds again to step 504, as describedabove.

Returning to connector B and referring to FIG. 5F, if the conferencedialer application receives a fifth voice input (e.g., user states“cancel meeting”) from the user (step 540), the conference dialerapplication will cancel access to the conference system (step 542). Theprocess then ends, as illustrated in step 544.

Returning to step 512 and FIG. 5B, if the conference dialer applicationdetermines that the user equipment is set to a “silent” mode, theprocess continues to step 514. Step 514 illustrates the conferencedialer application displaying a user interface (e.g., menu screen 410 ofFIG. 4) prompting a user for silent input, in response to the meetingnotification. The process then proceeds to connector C. If theconference dialer application, via the user interface, receives a firstsilent input (e.g., user selects option 1 on menu screen 410 of FIG. 4)from the user indicating to the UE to join a meeting on the conferencesystem (step 516), the conference dialer application automaticallysupplies at least one conference code from the meeting notification to atelephone dialer application (e.g., telephone dialer application 312 ofFIG. 3A) in order to join the meeting. The telephone dialer applicationsupplies the conference system phone number and/or conference systempasscode to a conference system manager (e.g., conference system manager328 of FIG. 3B) without user interaction. The conference system managerassigns the user equipment to a virtual meeting (e.g., meeting 332 a-332n) corresponding to the received conference system passcode and connectsthe user equipment to the meeting (step 519). The process then ends, asillustrated in step 520.

Returning to connector C and referring to FIG. 5G, if the conferencedialer application receives a second silent input (e.g., user selectsoption 2 on menu screen 410 of FIG. 4 and specifies a user-requestedcontact) from the user (step 546), the conference dialer applicationconnects a three-way conference with a user-requested contact and alsoconnects to the meeting on the conference system (step 548). Accordingto an embodiment of the present invention, the conference dialerapplication automatically supplies at least one conference code from themeeting notification to a telephone dialer application (e.g., telephonedialer application 312 of FIG. 3A) in order to join the meeting. Theconference dialer application also supplies the contact information forthe user-requested contact to the telephone dialer application in orderto connect to a three-way conference with the user-requested contact.The at least one conference code can be a conference system phone numberand/or conference system passcode included in the meeting notification.The telephone dialer application supplies the conference system phonenumber and/or conference system passcode to a conference system manager(e.g., conference system manager 328 of FIG. 3B) without userinteraction. The conference system manager assigns the user equipment toa virtual meeting (e.g., meeting 332 a-332 n) corresponding to thereceived conference system passcode and connects the user equipment tothe meeting. The telephone dialer also connects to a three-wayconference with the user-requested contact (step 548). The process thenends, as illustrated in step 550.

Returning to connector C and referring to FIG. 5H, if the conferencedialer application receives a third silent input (e.g., user selectionoption 3 on menu screen 410 of FIG. 4) from the user (step 552), theconference dialer application sends the meeting notification, along withthe contact information with the user-requested contact to acommunications application such as an SMS application, e-mailapplication, and the like in order to forward the meeting notificationto the user-requested contact. The communications application thenforwards the meeting notification to the user-requested contact (step554). The process then ends, as illustrated in step 556.

Returning to connector C and referring to FIG. 5I, if the conferencedialer application receives a fourth voice input (e.g., user selectsoption 4 on menu screen 410 of FIG. 4) from the user (step 558), theconference dialer application will delay connection to the conferencesystem for a predetermined time period (step 560). After expiration ofthe predetermined time period, the process returns to connector A (FIG.5A) and proceeds again to step 504, as described above.

Returning to connector C and referring to FIG. 5J, if the conferencedialer application receives a fifth silent input (e.g., user selectsoption 5 on menu screen 410 of FIG. 4) from the user (step 564), theconference dialer application will cancel access to the conferencesystem (step 566). The process then ends, as illustrated in step 568.

As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the innovativeconcepts described in the present application can be modified and variedover a wide range of applications. Accordingly, the scope of patentedsubject matter should not be limited to any of the specific exemplaryteachings discussed above, but is instead defined by the followingclaims.

What is claimed:
 1. A user equipment (UE), comprising: at least oneprocessor; a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, coupled tothe at least one processor, the non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium further includes computer-readable instructions, when executed bythe at least one processor, are configured to: receive a meetingnotification from a calendar application, wherein the meetingnotification describes a meeting hosted on a conference system,determine if the UE is set to a silent mode, responsive to adetermination that the UE is set to the silent mode, display a userinterface prompt for a silent input in response to the meetingnotification, receive a first silent input indicating to the UE to joina meeting on the conference system, responsive to the first silentinput, automatically supply at least one conference access code to theconference system in order to join the meeting, responsive to adetermination that the UE is not set to the silent mode, present aprompt for voice input in response to the meeting notification, receivea first voice input indicating to the UE to join the meeting on theconference system, responsive to the first voice input, automaticallysupply the at least one conference access code to the conference systemin order to join the meeting, and connect to the meeting on theconference system.
 2. The UE according to claim 1, wherein thecomputer-readable instructions, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, are further configured to: responsive to a second voiceinput, connect a three-way conference with a user-requested contact andthe conference system.
 3. The UE according to claim 1, wherein thecomputer-readable instructions, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, are further configured to: responsive to a third voice input,forward the meeting notification to at least one user-requested contact.4. The UE according to claim 1, wherein the computer-readableinstructions, when executed by the at least one processor, are furtherconfigured to: responsive to a fourth voice input, delay access to theconference system for a predetermined time period.
 5. The UE accordingto claim 1, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed bythe at least one processor, are further configured to: responsive to afifth voice input, cancel access to the conference system.
 6. A methodfor connecting a user equipment (UE) to a conference system, the methodcomprising: receiving, using at least one processor, a meetingnotification from a calendar application, wherein the meetingnotification describes a meeting hosted on a conference system;determining if the UE is set to a silent mode; in response todetermining that the UE is set to the silent mode, displaying a userinterface prompt a silent input in response to the meeting notification;receiving a first silent input indicating to the UE to join a meeting onthe conference system; in response to the first silent input,automatically supplying at least one conference access code to theconference system in order to join the meeting; in response todetermining that the US is not set to the silent mode, prompting forvoice input in response to the meeting notification; receiving a firstvoice input indicating to the UE to join the meeting on the conferencesystem; responsive to the first voice input, automatically supplying theat least one conference access code in order to join the meeting; andconnecting to the meeting on the conference system.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, further comprising: in response to a second voice input,connecting a three-way conference with a user-requested contact and theconference system.
 8. The method of claim 6, further comprising: inresponse to a third voice input, forwarding the meeting notification toat least one user-requested contact.
 9. The method of claim 6, furthercomprising: in response to a fourth voice input, delaying access to theconference system for a predetermined time period.
 10. The method ofclaim 6, further comprising: in response to a fifth voice input, cancelaccess to the conference system.
 11. A non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium further including computer-readable instructions, whenexecuted by at least one processor, are configured to: receive a meetingnotification from a calendar application, wherein the meetingnotification describes a meeting hosted on a conference system;determine if the UE is set to a silent mode; responsive to adetermination that the UE is set to the silent mode, display a userinterface prompt for a silent input in response to the meetingnotification; receive a first silent input from the user indicating tothe UE to join the meeting on the conference system; responsive to thefirst silent input, automatically supply at least one conference accesscode to the conference system in order to join the meeting; responsiveto a determination that the UE is not set to the silent mode, present aprompt for voice input in response to the meeting notification; receivea first voice input from the user indicating to the UE to join themeeting on the conference system; responsive to the first voice input,automatically supply the at least one conference access code to theconference system in order to join the meeting; and connect to themeeting on the conference system.
 12. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein thecomputer-readable instructions, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, are further configured to: responsive to a second voiceinput, connect a three-way conference with a user-requested contact andthe conference system.
 13. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium of claim 11, wherein the computer-readable instructions, whenexecuted by the at least one processor, are further configured to:responsive to a third voice input, forward the meeting notification toat least one user-requested contact.
 14. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein thecomputer-readable instructions, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, are further configured to: responsive to a fourth voiceinput, delay access to the conference system for a predetermined timeperiod.
 15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim11, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the atleast one processor, are further configured to: responsive to a fifthvoice input, cancel access to the conference system.
 16. A system forconnecting a user equipment (UE) to a conference system, the systemcomprising: a user equipment (UE), further comprising: at least oneprocessor; a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, coupled tothe at least one processor, the non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium further includes computer-readable instructions, when executed bythe at least one processor, are configured to: receive a meetingnotification from a calendar application, wherein the meetingnotification describes a meeting hosted on a conference system,determine if the UE is set to a silent mode, responsive to adetermination that the UE is set to the silent mode, display a userinterface prompt for a silent input in response to the meetingnotification, receive a first silent input indicating to the UE to joina meeting on the conference system, responsive to the first silentinput, automatically supply at least one conference access code to theconference system in order to join the meeting, responsive to adetermination that the UE is not set to the silent mode, present aprompt for voice input in response to the meeting notification, receivea first voice input indicating to the UE to join the meeting on theconference system; and responsive to the first voice input,automatically supply the at least one conference access code to theconference system in order to join the meeting, and connect to themeeting on the conference system; and a conference system, furthercomprising: at least one processor; a non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium, coupled to the at least one processor, wherein thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium further includescomputer-readable instructions, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, are configured to: receive the at least one conference accesscode from the UE, assign the UE to a virtual meeting corresponding tothe at least one conference access code, and connect the UE to thevirtual meeting.
 17. The system according to claim 16, wherein thecomputer-readable instructions in the UE, when executed by the at leastone processor, are further configured to: responsive to a second voiceinput, connect a three-way conference with a user-requested contact andthe conference system.
 18. The system according to claim 16, wherein thecomputer-readable instructions in the UE, when executed by the at leastone processor, are further configured to: responsive to a third voiceinput, forward the meeting notification to at least one user-requestedcontact.
 19. The system according to claim 16, wherein thecomputer-readable instructions in the UE, when executed by the at leastone processor, are further configured to: responsive to a fourth voiceinput, delay access to the conference system for a predetermined timeperiod.
 20. The UE according to claim 16, wherein the computer-readableinstructions in the UE, when executed by the at least one processor, arefurther configured to: responsive to a fifth voice input, cancel accessto the conference system.